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My wife and daughter own and operate a dog grooming shop. It's in a small shopping center (3 additional stores) with a shop and rob as the corner store. This store has been robbed three times in three months.

Although both wife and daughter have CHL, when at work, mode of dress and type of work prohibit carrying on their persons. This means they both put their weapons in a drawer at the front of the employee area that is separated from the customer area by a wall with an open window and a half door.

What I'm looking for is a small safe or device that can be mounted under a groom table that can e opened in a downward motion but be activated from the bottom. It must me thin (no more tha 3-1/2" tall). Does not have to lock as it is only used during the day and quick access is a must.

I have looked at all of the different safes that I can find but those that fit the size requirement either have the combination mechanism on top or open up instead of down.

if they own the business, have them change the uniform, and carry on person. That is what I did.

I'm thinking lab coats would be appropriate to the workplace and a good cover garment.

P.S.: That's laboratory coats, not Labrador Retriever coats.

- Jim

seamusTX wrote:I'm thinking lab coats would be appropriate to the workplace and a good cover garment.

- Jim

I think it's fantastic that they both have a CHL!

While I would strongly recommend them wearing a firearm, you could mount a holster under the table. That would allow quick access.

With that many robberies... I would recommend role-playing some robbery scenarios at the shop so that they can develop a workable response.

Just be aware that during any kind of force-on-force training NO real weapons should be in the area. No real guns, no real knives, period. My class used a triple check to insure no real weapons were present.

I would change the uniform if you can.
Are they wearing scrubs? If so, a belly band would work underneath the scrubs.
Many touch combination safes can be installed under a table.
Also, do the boxes or areas with a gun have to be locked? Are children or customers allowed in the grooming area? I ask this b/c my dog has never touched my gun.

Add me to the chorus of people who think carrying off your body is not a very good idea. I think it is mostly attitude, and it would seem to me one could come up with some pet grooming smocks of some kind that would conceal an OWB holster quite well. The gun might get wet occasionally, but that won't hurt it.

However, if they insist on going this route, and actually locking the container is not an issue, then I would select something that doesn't look like a gun box. Maybe mount a regular drawer under the grooming table, or if you are the least bit handy, maybe make a wooden box yourself and put it there (and put ONLY the gun in there. I doubt if Violent Criminal Actor would be impressed if you grabbed doggie brush and waved it at him!). If the underneath part of the table is out of sight, Paladin's recommendation (attach a holster) is a good one.

And if they are going the pistol-stash route, would also recommend stashing pistols in more than one place (several if you have more than two handguns), including the employee-only bathroom if there is one.

Venus Pax wrote:I would change the uniform if you can.
Are they wearing scrubs? If so, a belly band would work underneath the scrubs.:

Good suggestion, a belly band under loose clothing would allow carry from several different positions.

If a small firearm carried in front is not comfortable/practical.....then a B-Band could still be used to carry at any position from 4 O'Clock to Small of Back.

I am about to purchase one for my daughter, so she can experiment with it.

RPBrown wrote:My wife and daughter own and operate a dog grooming shop. It's in a small shopping center (3 additional stores) with a shop and rob as the corner store. This store has been robbed three times in three months.

<SNIP>

It must me thin (no more tha 3-1/2" tall). Does not have to lock as it is only used during the day and quick access is a must.

<SNIP>

Sounds like a


clipped under the table would be the perfect solution!

I couldn't find this the first time I posted, but ran across it just now...


http://www.safetysafeguards.com/site/40 ... uct/2597-S

http://www.safetysafeguards.com/site/40 ... ct/3912-SH

Looks like they meet your size requirement when closed -- don't know if you have room for the doors to open.

They have Simplex locks; if you want the quickest access, I think you could just dial in the combo, then would only have to twist the knob to get into it. Or put in all the combo numbers except the last, then just punch the last one to get in.

elb

I have used Fobus style plastic/kydex paddle holsters for similar applications. All that is necessary is to drill out the screws for teh paddle, and remove the paddle. Then apply heat to the remaining riser with a heat gun, or even an iron through newspapers. Flatten the riser tang that the paddle was attached to, while it is hot.
Then screw that same flattened piece to the underside of the desk, counter, end table, door, etc. It maybe that left handed models ill fit some applications perfectly for right handed draw, too.

The deskmate may be just what I'm looking for.

As for carrying on body, with the constant movement of the dogs (you ever tried to give a 150 pound dog a bath when it doesn't want one), the water and the clothes they wear (similar to scrubs but made of nylon or rayon or whatever that material is) with elastic waist band. They tried a belly band but came away at the end of the day very bruised. Given the fact that one of them is almost always seated at a table, the mounted type would be best.

Well, good, hope the deskmate works out for them.

I still cringe at not having a gun on my person. I do wash a Labrador pretty regularly (much to his disgust -- even tho he is a Lab, he hates getting wet), horses, and whatnot. Even if I went with the deskmate, I would still get a Keltec P3AT and keep it in a pocket or ankle holster.

Good luck.

elb

ELB wrote:Well, good, hope the deskmate works out for them.

I still cringe at not having a gun on my person. I do wash a Labrador pretty regularly (much to his disgust -- even tho he is a Lab, he hates getting wet), horses, and whatnot. Even if I went with the deskmate, I would still get a Keltec P3AT and keep it in a pocket or ankle holster.

Good luck.

elb

Try giving a bath to 20-30 a day and you will understand. This does not include blow drying and grooming. As much as I would like them to have one on person, its just not feasable

I have ordered 1 of the deskmates to try.

Not be keep repeating it, but maybe you should have them try out a P3AT. Mine fits in my pocket and I forget its there, no matter what I am doing! IT just disappears. Its so small and light it shouldn't bother them.

Sorry, don't mean to but I really think the P3AT would be a great fit. I think the shotgun is better, but in a real situation, the .380 in the pocket is better than the gatling gun that you can't get to!